Slip and fall accidents can leave you with lasting injuries. These can range from fractures to head trauma. Treating these injuries can be expensive, and many of them can prevent you from going to work, further adding to the financial burden you must shoulder.
By filing a personal injury claim, you can receive compensation for your injuries. Personal injury compensation can reimburse you for damages and medical bills.
Of course, you must follow the proper steps to pursue compensation for your slip and fall injuries. Follow these steps to a successful personal injury claim in Connecticut.
1. Remain Still as You Conduct a Self-assessment
At the moment of your fall, the impact may jar your senses. For this reason, you will not experience the symptoms of your injury immediately. Remain still for a few moments as you check yourself for injuries following your slip and fall accident.
You need to check for any numbness or tingling. These can indicate injuries like sciatic nerve injuries or spinal cord injuries.
Lastly, assess the range of motion of your arms, legs, and neck. These body parts are collections of joints and skeletal muscles, so any reduction in the range of motion will indicate fractures, dislocations, or a combination of both.
2. Inform Someone on the Scene About Your Slip and Fall
If there are people who saw you slip and fall, you just need to obtain their contact details. This way, you can contact them for future reference or if you need eyewitness accounts of your accident.
If you slipped and fell inside a business establishment, inform the owner about the accident. With the owner, you need to create an accident report. After its completion, ask for a copy. The copy of the accident report can become documented evidence for your personal injury claim later on.
Under no circumstances should you leave without getting a copy of the report.
3. Gather Evidence
Besides the accident report, you need other pieces of evidence. Evidence can include pictures of your injuries, the area where you fell, and the cause of the accident. Take as many photographs or videos as you can using your mobile phone.
If you lack the means to capture anything on photo or video, there’s another option — CCTV footage. Ask for a copy if there’s any CCTV footage available.
Having evidence will go a long way in building a stronger case. A stronger case means better chances of recovering full compensation for slip and fall injuries.
4. Get Medical Attention
You need to see a physician for two reasons. First, seeing a physician allows you to receive treatment for your injuries. Treatment will be especially crucial the more severe your injuries are.
Receiving medical attention also allows you to have medical records. These records will include x-rays, diagnostic results, and scans. Besides these, you will likely receive invoices or bills for receiving treatment.
All of these will help build your case. These documents will also help you file an insurance claim, which is the next step.
5. Call Your Injury Insurance Provider
Your insurance provider can provide coverage for any medical expenses you have incurred. However, your insurance provider will need evidence of these expenses before providing coverage.
To file an insurance claim, use the medical records and billing statements you gathered while in treatment. These will help your insurer calculate the right amount to cover or reimburse.
Of course, your insurance provider may be unable to cover your expenses. This is especially true if your injuries are severe. For full compensation and reimbursement, you need help.
Reach Out to an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer in Connecticut
A personal brain injury lawyer can help you recover compensation in several ways. First, a personal injury lawyer can build a strong case by proving who is liable for your injuries. Your lawyer can develop a compelling claim using the evidence you have.
Second, a lawyer helps your case by processing your slip and fall injury claim within the state’s statute of limitations. In Connecticut, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of your injury. In other words, you have two years to make a claim, starting from the date of your injury.
If you need legal representation that gets you results within this time frame, reach out. At Perkins, we specialize in recovering compensation for slip and fall accidents.
Call us now for legal representation and counsel in Connecticut.